Whats the humdrum about Chaps? Adventures into Victorian Science Fiction and Steampunk with ramblings about Aeronefs, Dirigibles, Land Ironclads, Anarchists, Dinosaur Hunting, Terranefs, Aquanefs, Mad Scientists, and all manner of electric contraptions and steam conveyances. It may not make sense, but there will be claret and a nice cheese board at the end. Tally-Ho and "Vôtre dans une sauce au vin blanc!"

Tuesday, 28 August 2007

Royal Greenwich Observatory photographs total Lunar Eclipse

Astronomy was a popular and important part of Victorian science, and British astronomers carried telescopes and spectroscopes to remote areas of India, the Great Plains of North America, and islands in the Caribbean and Pacific to watch the sun eclipsed by the moon. Of course escorting these puffed up windbags was an onerous task of any Officer, but it did at least provide an excuse to fish about for a bit of exotic skirt eh?!

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.Take this chap for instance, a Frog named Jules Janssen. Professor of Science at the University of Paris, and an enthusiastic observer of eclipses. Between his lecturers and his in-depth research in the field of chronophotography, he could be a bit dry.

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Fortunately, Lunar Eclipses are far more convenient and extensive travel is not necessary. Thus we didnt get stuck with the likes of cranky old Janssen today.

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Indeed this very evening this image was taken from one's own front yard whilst sipping a fine cognac. Appropriate give this week's focus on Astronefs and "Le Voyage dans la Lune"

The Society of Fantasy and Science Fiction Wargamers

A fine bunch of Chaps indeed!

Chaps who have dropped in for a cigar & a glass since 14Aug07

Notes regarding images: These are not all my images. In addition to my own pics, I am using various images from around the web, mostly from public sources or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your images(s) if it an infringement.